Cyprus has pushed back its transition to a new digital terrestrial television standard by two months, with the switchover to DVB-T2 now scheduled for July 1.
The decision, taken by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, is intended to give viewers more time to prepare and follows minor technical issues during the rollout phase.
The upgrade will see Hellas Sat take over operation of the country’s DTT platform, replacing Velister and moving from the older DVB-T standard to DVB-T2.
The change primarily affects households receiving television via rooftop or indoor aerials. Viewers using cable or satellite services will not need to take action.
Households with DVB-T2 compatible televisions will only need to retune their channels. Those with older sets will need a DVB-T2 set-top box or a new television.
The move aligns Cyprus with most European markets, where DVB-T2 has become the standard, offering improved picture quality, greater channel capacity and more efficient use of spectrum.
Retailers in the country are already reporting increased demand for DVB-T2 equipment as the revised deadline approaches.
